5 factors to help you find the right driver shaft for your swing
- Flex. Generally speaking, a driver shaft that’s too stiff will cause shots to launch too low, with too little spin and low peak heights.
- Weight. The weight of a shaft has a similar correlation to performance as flex. ...
- Length. Of course, the length of your driver shaft will significantly change how the golf club feels, but length affects strike point, too.
- Kick point. According to Briand, a high bend point will lower ball flight and a low bend point will raise ball flight.
- Torque. A low torque measurement means that a shaft has greater resistance to twisting, while a high torque measurement means it will twist more easily.
- Flex. Generally speaking, a driver shaft that's too stiff will cause shots to launch too low, with too little spin and low peak heights. ...
- Weight. The weight of a shaft has a similar correlation to performance as flex. ...
- Length. ...
- Kick point. ...
- Torque.
How to pick the right golf shafts?
How to Pick the Right Golf Shaft Step 1. Choose between graphite and steel shafts. When they were first introduced, graphite shafts were meant for... Step 2. Pick shafts whose flex is right for your swing. Simply, flex refers to the amount a shaft will bend while you... Step 3. Factor in the weight, ...
What shaft should I use for my driver?
Most average male golfers swing their drivers at about 90 MPH, carrying about 225 YDS, and would require an R, or regular shaft. Swing speeds and distances above that might require an S, or stiff shaft.
Does the shaft affect the distance of a golf driver?
Using a golf driver with an improper shaft can adversely affect the distance, accuracy, and trajectory of your drives. The shaft is often mistakenly referred to as the “engine” of a golf club. In fact, it is more the “transmission” as the power, which is supplied by the golfer’s arms and body, is transmitted through the shaft to the clubhead.
How do you know which golf shaft to use?
A player with a very fast swing will require a shaft with less flex, while a player with a slower swing will need a shaft with greater flex. Flex is generally rated as Extra Stiff (XS), Stiff(S), Firm(F), Regular(R), Senior(S), Amateur(A) and Ladies(L).
What golf club shaft is best for me?
If your drives carry less than 200 yards, you should probably have Ladies shafts, and if your ball carries between 200 and 225 yards, you should buy clubs with Senior shafts. Generally, if there is a doubt about which shafts you should have, choose the softer shafts.
What flex should my driver be?
In general, golfers with driver swing speeds over 95 mph should play stiff flex shafts, and those under 95 mph should play regular flex. Shafts also come in extra stiff (105+ mph) and senior flex (under 85 mph).
Do I want a lighter or heavier driver shaft?
Weight in the shaft is linked to your preference for feel and swing speed. Fast swing speed will benefit from a heavier shaft to provide more control without losing distance. Slow swing speed and tempo will benefit most from a lightweight shaft.
Is a 70 gram driver shaft too heavy?
A 70-gram driver shaft is considered to be pretty heavy but not the heaviest. It falls into the middle but is still on the heavier side when you consider you could go with 50 or 60 grams instead.
What happens if driver shaft is too flexible?
Having a shaft that is too flexible can also cause the ball to hook uncontrollably, because the shaft bends incorrectly, it will come through with a closed clubface causing the ball to go left, this is because the shaft can't handle your swing speed, and the head is rotating too much.
What shaft is best for my swing speed?
– Golf Shaft Flex ChartCarry DistanceSwing SpeedFlexUnder 200 yardsUnder 75 mphLadies or Senior200 to 240 yards75 to 95 mphRegular240 to 275 yards95 to 110 mphStiffOver 275 yardsOver 110 mphStiff or Extra StiffOct 15, 2019
How can I tell my swing speed?
Divide the ball speed by 1.5 to get the estimated swing speed for your drive. Alternatively, you can divide the carry distance by 2.3 to estimate the swing speed at impact, but the result will not be as accurate.
What weight of golf shaft is right for me?
In general, golfers with slower swing speed and tempo can and should play a lighter shaft. Golfers with very fast speeds and tempo should play heavier shafts. Driver shafts typically weigh 55-60 grams for men and 45-50 grams for ladies. Iron shafts can be as light as 55 grams in graphite, and 130 grams in steel.
How do you know if your driver shaft is too heavy?
If you are struggling to swing through the ball, and are pushing your shots, it is likely the driver shaft is too heavy for your swing. A heavy driver shaft will further reduce your clubhead speed, which will limit your ability to generate sufficient ball speed.
What is the best swing weight for a driver?
More than 80% of the time, he finds that golfers are creating the best results with a swing weight of D5 with Red Range shafts.
What driver shaft is most used on tour?
Fujikura driver shafts are the most used by the top 100 PGA Tour players with 28 players using them including Justin Thomas, Jordan Speith, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Louis Oosthuizen. The Ventus Blue 6X and Ventus Black 6X shafts are the most popular individual driver shafts.
How long is a golf driver shaft?
The standard retail driver shaft measures 45.5 inches. If you have not been fitted for clubs, then this is likely the length of your driver shaft. Longer shafts help you to generate accelerated clubhead speed. However, it becomes more difficult to control the clubhead, increasing the risk of off-center strikes.
What is a driver shaft?
Driver shafts come in varied flex, weight, and length options, all designed to assist different golfers. The correct driver shaft is vital to achieving your desired spin rate, launch angle, shot shape, carry, and total distance. For example, faster swinging golfers may generate too much spin and height with a softer driver that has more flex.
Why is clubhead speed important in golf?
This increases the club head speed on the downswing. Clubhead speed does not guarantee a great golf shot, but it helps to amplify the C.O.R at impact.
What happens if your driver shaft is too heavy?
If your driver shaft is too heavy, it will cause you to achieve a lower flight and less spin off the tee. This could significantly reduce your carry distance and total distance. On the other hand, if your shaft is too light, you will likely balloon your drives and gather excessive spin.
Why are shafts so stiff?
On the flip side, shafts that are too stiff for your swing will deliver low levels of spin, low ball flight, and also reduced your carry and total distance. Golf.com’s Andrew Tursky suggests that if you are struggling to generate a higher ball flight and are losing carry as a result.
What is torque in golf?
Torque. Simply put, torque measures the shaft’s ability to resist twisting. Shafts with low torque can withstand twisting, making this option suitable for faster swinging golfers or those of you who tend to hook the ball. These shafts often carry a higher price tag in comparison to the higher torque options.
What is the number one driver shaft on the PGA Tour?
According to Golf.com’s Andrew Tursky, The Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Tini Xts is the number one driver shaft on the PGA Tour. The shaft is used by Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, and Australians Adam Scott and Jason Day. Mitsubishi designed this shaft for aggressive swingers, providing low torque, launch, and spin.
Why do golfers change their shafts?
Often golfers change the shaft on their driver for reasons other than fitting the best shaft. The reason could be as simple as the golfer likes the look of the shaft or a favorite professional golfer uses the shaft. The detrimental effect on your game can be avoided by visiting a professional club fitter.
Why is it important to have the right shaft?
Having the right shaft plays a huge role in improving your game to the highest level that you can achieve. However, there are so many factors involved that not all golfers are aware of.
What is the difference between lighter shafts and lighter shafts?
Lighter shafts typically result in increased clubhead speed. In addition to the weight, its center-of-mass or balance point can play a role in performance. Heavier shafts promote less spin with a lower left-to-right trajectory while lighter shafts promote higher ball flights with more right-to-left trajectories.
What is shaft flex?
Shaft flex is the factor in a driver shaft that most golfers understand in broad terms. However, it is far more intricate than the letter on the shaft indicating the flex. The holistic description of the flex of a shaft is something called an EI profile. This presents the stiffness of a shaft, from one end to another.
What is torque in golf?
Torque is the twisting movement of the shaft during the golf swing measured in degrees and shown as a rating. The more the shaft twists, the higher the rating, and the more the shaft twist. It is the torque that also determines how the shaft feels. This means that the higher the rating, the softer the shaft will feel.
What is a driver fitting?
A driver fitting is the ultimate way of making sure that your driver shaft is suitable for you. Get the right shaft on your driver and get the most accurate and longest drives to put a smile on your face.
What is a stepped steel shaft?
You will find stepped steel shafts on most irons. A steel strip is rolled into a tube, mechanically drawn, step pattern formed, and the walls are made thinner at the tip and thicker at the top.
What is the first thing to decide on golf shafts?
The first thing is to decide is what type of golf shafts you would prefer, followed by shaft flex, kick-point, torque rating and length. Each of these different aspects of golf club shafts that can influence the performance of your club, and each must be carefully considered before you put in an order. Read on to find out all about how ...
What are the different types of golf shafts?
There are two basic types of golf shafts: steel and graphite. Often, your club will have been originally assembled with either of these types of shafts, however if you decide that you would like to change your type of shaft, you should know the difference between each shaft type. There are some newer options that combine the two materials, ...
What is a multi-material shaft?
A recent addition to the market are multi-material shafts which are used on both irons and drivers. This type of shaft incorporates steel and graphite into one shaft to get the best of both worlds for each player, to suit all playing types. Generally, the shaft is made using a steel shaft that has a graphite tip.
How long should a 5-iron shaft be?
The following lists what length of shafts you should consider for certain heights. If the crease where your wrist and hand meet to the floor is: 29 to 32 inches = irons should be based on a 5-iron of 37 inches. 33 to 34 inches = irons should be based on a 5-iron of 37 1/2 inches.
How much does graphite shaft weigh?
Graphite shafts are much lighter, less durable and more expensive in comparison to steel shafts, and weigh between 50 and 85 grams – around half the weight of a steel shaft! These light-weight shafts help to provide a greater swing speed for more power, however, it sacrifices control due to the flex generated in the swing.
What is the difference between steel shafts and graphite shafts?
Steel shafts are much heavier, more durable and are generally less expensive than their graphite counterpart s. They are often made from carbon steel, but stainless steel is sometimes used, and start at 120 grams.
What is the kick point of a golf shot?
The shaft kick-point – also known as flex-point – is the point where the shaft bends and affects the trajectory of the shot. Although the effect is only small, it is still measurable.
What happens if your driver shaft is too stiff?
Generally speaking, a driver shaft that’s too stiff will cause shots to launch too low, with too little spin and low peak heights. A shaft that’s too weak, on the other hand, may cause shots to spin too much, fly too high, and widen dispersion patterns.
What shafts do you need for a slow swing?
Slow swing speeds will generally require softer-flex shafts, while high swing speeds need stiffer shafts; due to variations in swing patterns, however, swing speed is only one portion of finding the right shaft. Briand’s recommendation is to use your current driver shaft as a baseline.
What does low torque mean on a shaft?
5. Torque. A low torque measurement means that a shaft has greater resistance to twisting, while a high torque measurement means it will twist more easily.
What happens if you have a longer shaft?
As Briand says, a longer shaft will cause a less consistent strike on the face, and the golfer will tend to hit the ball closer to the heel. A shorter shaft, on the other hand, will cause a more consistent strike pattern, but impact location will tend to be on the toe. A golfer’s physical size, arm length, swing speed, consistency, ...
How tall is Rickie Fowler's shaft?
A look at Rickie Fowler's fairway wood shaft, which measures 42 inches with 0.5 inches of tipping. Fitting a golfer into the exact right shaft for them over the internet is a tall, if not impossible, task. All driver swings are different, and there are so many options on the current market. Shafts are made with different flexes, lengths, weights, ...
Does tipping a shaft change the bend point?
Remember, though, that tipping a shaft will change the bend point, and it’s also irreversible, so make sure you know the purpose behind tipping your shaft. 2. Weight. The weight of a shaft has a similar correlation to performance as flex.
Does a high bend point lower or raise the ball?
According to Briand, a high bend point will lower ball flight and a low bend point will raise ball flight. So, if you tend to have a ball flight that’s too high, look for shafts that have a high kick point, and vice versa. It’s important to note that variations in length and shaft tipping will impact the designed bend point of a shaft.
How many yards can you add with a golf club shaft?
To set the record straight, with the right shafts, you could add an additional 20 to 25 yards to your game as well as improve your accuracy.
What does flex mean in golf?
Simply, flex refers to the amount a shaft will bend while you swing. If you choose the wrong flex, the club head will not hit the ball squarely which will have an impact on your distance and the trajectory of the golf ball. Although there are no standards established, there are 5 different levels of flex: Ladies, Senior, Regular, ...
Can you swing a golf club with a lighter shaft?
The weight of a club is a matter of preference. Generally, you can swing a club with a lighter shaft faster, thereby increasing your distance. But you most likely will sacrifice some accuracy. Length is also a personal matter, and clubs with longer shafts generally hit the ball further. But clubs with shorter shafts are easier to hit ...
What is a golf shaft?
When it comes to performance the golf shaft has been referred to as the transmission of the golf club. The flex, length, and weight can all effect how you are hitting a golf ball. In fact, the correct shaft can help any golfer hit the ball straighter and farther. Take a closer look at the different types of shafts usually offered, and find the one that’s best for your swing.
What shafts are best for a senior golfer?
With greater swing speeds and flex you will lose some accuracy with the club. Graphite shafts are best suited for senior golfers and lady golfers who cannot produce a lot of swing speed.
Why is flex important in golf?
Flex. The most important factor when buying a shaft is the flex because it affects your distance and direction. In essence flex is the ability of a golf shaft to bend during the golf swing.
What is the best driver for golf?
For someone who hits the course or driving range only occasionally, a high quality alloy driver can be found at a reasonable price. A titanium driver, or multi-material driver like titanium and composite, that combines light weight and excellent strength is more expensive and for golfers who play more consistently.
How many yards does a golf driver drive carry?
Weight is what you’ll want to pay attention to. You don’t want a shaft that’s too heavy. As far as flex, if your drives carry between 230-250 yards, a regular flex is best for your game.
Why do golf clubs swing sideways?
Many golfers think they’re not good enough to get custom-fit clubs, that the flaws in their swing will override any potential benefits of clubs built just for them, but fitters say the reason many players hit it sideways is because they haven’t been custom-fit. Trying to swing golf clubs whose length, weight, lie angle, shaft flex or grip size don’t match the body encourages players to make unnatural compensations that prevent them from developing proper mechanics. Choosing this type of driver will cost you a little more time and money, but it ensures you’ll get a perfectly-fit driver.
What is driver loft?
LOFT. Loft is the amount that the face of the club slopes back. Driver loft, which typically ranges from 8.5° to 15°, should match your swing speed. The slower your swing speed the more loft you should have.
How long is a standard driver?
No standard length exists for a driver. Every manufacturer offers different models with varying lengths (usually 43.5” to 47”) but drivers continue to get progressively longer, with some even reaching 48” (the maximum allowable). That’s because in most cases, the longer the shaft the faster the head will travel.
Can you adjust the face angle of a golf club?
Using only a wrench, golfers are now able to adjust the face angle, loft and lie angle without the help of their local club fitter—or having to buy a new club altogether. Golfers can alter the club dynamics to suit their desired ball flight or pick up a few additional yards of carry. Many manufacturers insist an adjustable driver gives you every advantage. However, others disagree, citing a more expensive price tag, additional weighting in less than ideal locations, and confusion about all the different setting combinations as reasons to play a traditional, non-adjustable driver.
Can you custom order a driver?
Many drivers can also be custom ordered. Customers can select a custom shaft and grip, as well as length fit to them. All custom orders are placed directly with the manufacturer and assembled by the experts that make the clubs. This is a great option if you have been custom fit for a driver.
Weight
The weight of your shaft is going to primarily affect your distance. A heavier shaft will reduce your clubhead speed and thus the amount of energy transferred into the ball.
Kickpoint
Depending on the kickpoint, your shaft will bend closer to the head or the grip of the club.
Torque
Torque refers to how much the shaft twists. It’s the least talked about feature but still an important one to club fitters. High torque shafts can twist easily, and low torque shafts are resistant to twisting.
Cost
It always comes down to price at the end of the day and we are always looking for the best deal. A driver shaft can cost anywhere from $40 – $300.
Conclusion
Fitting yourself for a driver shaft is a bit like trying to do your own plumbing. You could do it yourself but if you get something wrong then you might end up in the water.